Aviat Aircraft A-1C-180 accident near Greensburg, Indiana, April 19, 2011
On April 19, 2011 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Aviat Aircraft A-1C-180, registered N18WY, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Greensburg, Indiana (Greensburg Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land on the grass which contained standing water. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of power due to carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2011 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Greensburg, Indiana · Greensburg Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft A-1C-180
- Registration
- N18WY · registry record · serial 3038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing low approaches when he experienced a partial loss of engine power during climb out. He continued onto the downwind leg where he applied carburetor heat and determined the loss of power was a result of carburetor ice. The pilot shortened the downwind and base legs, and decided to land on the grass alongside the paved runway. He stated that the approach was high and fast and he was more comfortable landing on the grass as the airplane was equipped with tundra tires. The airplane nosed over during the landing when it contacted standing water on the grass. The right wing of the airplane was substantially damaged. A review of the FAA Carburetor Icing chart revealed the conditions were conducive to serious icing at descent power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern crosswind)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,285 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 6, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 258 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I34 Greensburg IN at 10:30 pm
- Destination: I34 Greensburg IN
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from GEZ, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.